Okay, here is my sharing about installing a ladder rack for my pickup truck:
So, I finally got around to putting a ladder rack on my pickup. It’s something I’ve been meaning to do for a while, ’cause I’m always hauling stuff around. You know, ladders, lumber, the occasional kayak – just all sorts of things that are too big or awkward to fit in the bed of the truck. So, a ladder rack just makes sense, right?
First things first, I gotta say, picking out the right rack wasn’t as easy as I thought. There are a ton of options out there! I spent hours online, reading reviews and comparing prices. I finally settled on one from, well I won’t mention any brand but let’s say it is a famous brand. It seemed like a good balance of quality and price. I didn’t want to cheap out, but I also didn’t want to break the bank, you know?
Once I got the rack, the real fun began – installation. Now, I’m no mechanic, but I’m pretty handy. I figured I could handle it myself. The instructions that came with the rack were pretty straightforward, which was a relief. You know, I really don’t understand the jargon, and I just follow the step-by-step guide.
I started by laying out all the parts and hardware, just to make sure I had everything. Then, I started assembling the rack according to the instructions. It was mostly just a matter of bolting things together. I had to do a bit of climbing on and off the truck to get everything lined up, but it wasn’t too bad.
The trickiest part was probably getting the rack mounted on the truck bed rails. I had to make sure it was centered and level, which took a bit of fiddling. But with a little patience, I got it done. Once the rack was mounted, I tightened down all the bolts and double-checked everything to make sure it was secure. It is very important to protect not only myself but also other road users. I don’t want a ladder to fly off and cause an accident.
- Raise the tailgate to angle any overhang up and away from following motorists.
- Take a ratchet strap and drape it over your ladder behind the tailgate.
- Take each strap end and pass it through the ladder around each side rail.
- Connect to your truck’s anchor tie-down points and tighten down your ratchet strap.
And that’s pretty much it! Now I’ve got a solid ladder rack on my truck, and I can haul all sorts of stuff without worrying about it. It’s definitely going to come in handy. And you know what? I actually enjoyed putting it together. It was kind of satisfying to do it myself. If you’re thinking about getting a ladder rack for your truck, I say go for it. Just make sure you do your research and pick out a good one. And if you’re even a little bit handy, you can probably install it yourself, no problem. You just need a little bit of patience and a good set of tools.
I’m really happy with how it turned out. Now I can finally carry my ladders and other long items without any hassle. Plus, it makes my truck look even more rugged, which is a bonus! It was a fun little project, and I’m glad I finally got it done. The whole thing took me maybe a couple of hours, and that includes the time I spent scratching my head and trying to figure out which bolt went where. It is really worth it!
All in all, it was a good experience. I saved some money by doing it myself, and I got a sense of accomplishment from tackling the project on my own. Plus, I learned a few things along the way. Not bad for a weekend project, right?
Oh, and one more thing. If you do decide to install your own ladder rack, make sure you have a buddy to help you lift the rack onto the truck. Those things can be heavier than they look! And trust me, you don’t want to drop it on your truck – or your foot!
Alright, that’s my ladder rack story. Hope it was helpful, or at least entertaining. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some stuff to haul!
